***January 2022 Thread*** - Kicking Off 2022 with WDW!

[SheSingsAlong]

So cold! 50 degrees, breezy and rainy, but we are having a good time at AK before hopping to HS Everyone was right, layers of clothing are a must. I've got on a long sleeve T, short sleeve T, and hoodie with jeans. Just wish I had thrown my gloves in my park bag. Bonus: the masks are not at all bothersome when they are helping keep your face warm

 

[DaniellePoppins]

I’m at AK too and it’s definitely a bit , but considering I’m usually dying of heat here it’s a nice change. I plan to hop to Epcot later, but I’m just waiting for my FOP time to come up.

 

[Kbosch]

So cold! 50 degrees, breezy and rainy, but we are having a good time at AK before hopping to HS Everyone was right, layers of clothing are a must. I've got on a long sleeve T, short sleeve T, and hoodie with jeans. Just wish I had thrown my gloves in my park bag. Bonus: the masks are not at all bothersome when they are helping keep your face warm

Hoping it at least keeps the lines shorter for you!

We'll be at AK next Saturday so I was planning on stalking wait times today to see what to expect but will assume waits will all be a little shorter on a cold/rainy weekend day.

ETA: Just checked wait times. Guess I was wrong.

 

[scrappinginontario]

So cold! 50 degrees, breezy and rainy, but we are having a good time at AK before hopping to HS Everyone was right, layers of clothing are a must. I've got on a long sleeve T, short sleeve T, and hoodie with jeans. Just wish I had thrown my gloves in my park bag. Bonus: the masks are not at all bothersome when they are helping keep your face warm

I’m at AK too and it’s definitely a bit , but considering I’m usually dying of heat here it’s a nice change. I plan to hop to Epcot later, but I’m just waiting for my FOP time to come up.

On my shopping list for today are gloves - to throw in the suitcase with our shorts and bathing suits!!

 

[figmentfinesse]

I’m on my way to Orlando after getting off the Magic this morning. Should be in the park (also AK just like everyone else!!) a little before 2…definitely preparing myself for the cold!

 

[DaniellePoppins]

On my shopping list for today is gloves - to throw in the suitcase with our shorts and bathing suits!!

lol you definitely need both! The pools have been packed the last few days, today not so much. Although I did see one brave soul.

So as much as I was looking forward to Rose and Crown tomorrow I decided to cancel my reservation. Epcot is insane. I don’t know if it’s the weekend locals and festival, increase crowds overall or something else. I am lucky that I’m coming back in September when hopefully even with food and wine it should be lower crowds. ( I really hope!) I’m kind of disgusted by how drunk some people seem to be as well. With tomorrow being an MK day,my reservation was pretty late, and the skyliner shutting down as well, I’m too tired to do it. I’ll try again next time.

 

[jmparry]

On my shopping list for today are gloves - to throw in the suitcase with our shorts and bathing suits!!

My gloves and layers are packed! Just three days until Disney!!!

 

[Lsdolphin]

My gloves and layers are packed! Just three days until Disney!!!

Arriving on Wednesday am! Packing tomorrow ...packing everything it the kitchen sink!

 

[SheSingsAlong]

Arriving on Wednesday am! Packing tomorrow ...packing everything it the kitchen sink!

That's basically what you have to do, yeah The forecast does show better weather for you than we've had the last couple days.

 

[hulagirl87]

In the same boat with packing! The first few days of our trip look super cold, then slowly warming up, but still only in the low 70's. Which to me is perfection as today it's 0 here in upstate NY! Layers layers layers! My family room has turned into packing central and every time I think of something I can just toss it out there. It's a mess, but there's a method to my madness! Also I just saw on Instagram that they released some new 50th anniversary merchandise. Fingers are crossed it doesn't sell out before we get there!

 

[DaniellePoppins]

Merchandise overall isn’t the easiest to come by. Today was the first time I saw a classic Mickey plush on a store. There also pretty much no mugs anywhere. The employee at the emporium said everything is stuck off the coast of California. Here’s hoping it resolves before my September trip. I’d really love a 50th mug.

 

[CindysMice]

Merchandise overall isn’t the easiest to come by. Today was the first time I saw a classic Mickey plush on a store. There also pretty much no mugs anywhere. The employee at the emporium said everything is stuck off the coast of California. Here’s hoping it resolves before my September trip. I’d really love a 50th mug.

This makes me so sad.

 

[KTwiegs]

of course a winter storm heading to the north east right before our flight... just another thing to stress about!!!!!!

 

[Faithful Raider]

Everyone talking about the insane crowds at MK today (and I hear HS too). 60 minute wait for Little Mermaid right now tells you all you need to know. Someone on Reddit said barnstormer got up to 75 minutes. Totally killing my vibe to even want to go on this trip and we are T minus 3 days and counting...

 

[scrappinginontario]

Everyone talking about the insane crowds at MK today (and I hear HS too). 60 minute wait for Little Mermaid right now tells you all you need to know. Someone on Reddit said barnstormer got up to 75 minutes. Totally killing my vibe to even want to go on this trip and we are T minus 3 days and counting...

I hear you. One of the many reasons I find a TP subscription to be helpful when looking at posted wait times while there. Can't change the lines but helps me guage how accurate the posted wait times are.

VLM anticipated to be 28 minutes rather than posted 55.

 

[sheilafri]

I was there a couple weeks ago. I left early mainly due to too many parents not ensuring their children were wearing their masks correctly. No, I’m not talking about babies and toddlers. Toddlers seemed to be great about the rules. It was mainly elementary age kids. I’m vaxxed and boosted but I don’t want your 8 year old bumping into me in line inside a half dozen times with his mask hanging around his chin. Get a clue!

 

[SheSingsAlong]

Everyone talking about the insane crowds at MK today (and I hear HS too). 60 minute wait for Little Mermaid right now tells you all you need to know. Someone on Reddit said barnstormer got up to 75 minutes. Totally killing my vibe to even want to go on this trip and we are T minus 3 days and counting...

I'm in MK and yes, it's a mad house! Not sure what's going on, except the last 2 days were cold and wet and today was dry, sunny, and warm after the morning chill. Touring Plans and a good G+ strategy are helping us push through, but it's just SO people-y here!

 

[mouschievous]

We thought it was really crowded when we were at MK and HS (Jan 12-13, specifically). We had to adjust our strategy/plan to more shows and less rides for those days, then went back late evenings to do the stuff we really wanted to do.

 

[Faithful Raider]

I hear you. One of the many reasons I find a TP subscription to be helpful when looking at posted wait times while there. Can't change the lines but helps me guage how accurate the posted wait times are.

VLM anticipated to be 28 minutes rather than posted 55.

Yes, we are aware that Disney frequently overestimates the waits, and we have a TP sub. Unfortunately we have to use DAS for our DD6, and those return times would mean we are waiting the posted 55 instead of the anticipated 28. And waiting in another long line while we wait for our DAS simply isn't an option for her. So for us, we really would be getting on nearly half as many rides in the same amount of time as someone who does not need DAS because of inflated wait times. I had hopes that we could pick up a DAS then do rides or shows with short lines to entertain her while we wait, but that's simply not possible when lines for things like Aladdin's Carpets and Mad Tea Party are over 45 minutes. And yes, they might be shorter when we check TP, but that's no guarantee and it's very much a gamble with our DD6. And if DD6 isn't happy, that's kind of "game over" for our day. That's why seeing these unexpected crowds is so frustrating. Not having a plan in place with her in mind just isn't possible for us.

 

[scrappinginontario]

Yes, we are aware that Disney frequently overestimates the waits, and we have a TP sub. Unfortunately we have to use DAS for our DD6, and those return times would mean we are waiting the posted 55 instead of the anticipated 28. And waiting in another long line while we wait for our DAS simply isn't an option for her. So for us, we really would be getting on nearly half as many rides in the same amount of time as someone who does not need DAS because of inflated wait times. I had hopes that we could pick up a DAS then do rides or shows with short lines to entertain her while we wait, but that's simply not possible when lines for things like Aladdin's Carpets and Mad Tea Party are over 45 minutes. And yes, they might be shorter when we check TP, but that's no guarantee and it's very much a gamble with our DD6. And if DD6 isn't happy, that's kind of "game over" for our day. That's why seeing these unexpected crowds is so frustrating. Not having a plan in place with her in mind just isn't possible for us.

I just read on another thread (and confirmed) that MK closes at 4:30 tomorrow for a cast party so there is speculation that a number of people moved their reservations to today and potentially Wednesday too.

Hopefully by the time you and I arrive things are normalized a bit and it offers you the opportunity to ride more than you may have today.